A SCHOOL has been allowed to keep two rare trees as a reminder of an important environmental project it took part in.

Dodmire Infant School was one of several in Darlington that were asked to look after a number of fledgling black poplar trees until they were ready to be planted in the countryside.

The black poplar is one of Britain's rarest native trees, but Darlington is one of its strongholds with about 30 examples of the species thriving in the borough.

Darlington Borough Council set up a project to help safeguard the future of the species, once as common as the oak, and asked members of the community to help plant and cultivate them.

Dodmire school received eight of the trees more than three years ago, and staff and pupils have been looking after them ever since.

Now the trees have grown to more than 6ft and it is time to replant them at permanent sites.

But the school has kept two of the trees and a plaque has been produced to remind future generations of pupils why they are important.

Headteacher Maureen Dixon said: "I asked the council if we could keep one for our environmental garden and we have placed one next to Doddy's Secret Garden, which we have in school.

"We have a garden gang which has been looking after it and we have put a plaque down there to help pupils connect with it."